The businesses most affected by this change are oil refineries, as the new rule forces operators to adopt new technology that better monitors and controls emissions.

“The EPA’s announcement today brings us one step closer to ensuring cleaner, healthier air for Texas families, but it’s too small a step when lives are at risk,” Chrissy Mann, senior campaign representative with the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, said. “We must do even better to keep our communities healthy and safe. Research links higher air pollution levels in Texas to increased numbers of hospital visits for heart attacks and strokes. A stronger smog standard is the only way to ensure that Texans breathe clean, safe air, and we’ll continue to demand that our leaders protect our air and keep us safe from corporate polluters.”

“The more we learn about ozone, the more we understand its negative effects on public health,” Shelley said. “Houston has not reduced ozone pollution in the last several years, and a new, lower ozone standard will help us continue to improve public health in Houston. Air Alliance Houston recommended a standard as low as 60 ppb, which would have provided further health benefits for the region."

Many others were critical of the new ozone standard for various reasons.

“Reps. Olson and Latta want clean, healthy air for their communities; but the proposed level is so low that much of America - including many national parks - would legally be considered ‘too dirty.’ This is especially troubling given that much of the ozone in America is outside our control, forming naturally or wafting in from overseas. A standard this low is currently both unachievable with current technology and would have a dramatic impact on the U.S. economy and jobs. The CASE Act, H.R. 1388, would require EPA to protect health AND consider feasibility when issuing rules under the Clean Air Act,” they stated in a press release.

“As a parent and Houstonian who grew up under a veil of smog, I understand the importance of clean and healthy air,” Rep. Olson said. “That’s why I’m proud of the steps we have taken across America to slash pollution levels from sources large and small. However, even EPA acknowledges they don’t how this regulation will be met, and they readily admit they were not obligated to consider whether it is achievable or affordable. Many communities across the country will be in violation of this new rule before a car is driven or a new business can open thanks to so-called background ozone that forms naturally or blows in from other countries. With bipartisan legislation like the CASE Act, I believe we can keep America on the path to cleaner air without strangling economic growth.”

“The EPA’s own data indicates adherence to current regulations is already working to reduce ozone. Without allowing sufficient time for counties to implement the current ozone requirements, the EPA has moved the goalposts in the middle of the game, and created what could be the most costly regulation in history. This rule would essentially create a nation of non-attainment counties, and effectively stifle any future investment or economic growth in these regions,” said Rep. Latta. “I represent a district with nearly 60,000 manufacturing jobs. These hardworking men and women - in businesses both small and large - should not be faced with the choice of complying with EPA regulations or staying in business. We can protect our environment and protect our economy through commonsense policies like the CASE Act. This new rule accomplishes neither of these goals.”

Representative Randy Weber (R-Friendswood) released a statement claiming “EPA’s regulation is an assault on American job creators and reflects a continuation of the burdensome and costly regulatory actions coming out of the Obama Administration, which fails to consider the impact these actions have on our economy. Texas knows how to improve air quality, and we do not need more government edicts to get in our way. In fact, ozone emissions in the Houston region are 30 percent lower than they were 15 years ago.

“Mandating a lower standard that even some of our national parks will fail to meet will make it more difficult for businesses to invest and create jobs. Instead of regulating at all cost, EPA should be working with states to implement the current standard, which it only began doing this year. This regulation will prove costly for our economy, and it’s time for Congress to put a stop to this out of control, unaccountable bureaucracy.”

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) released a statement saying, “The EPA’s new ozone standard is the latest in a multitude of back-breaking regulations the Obama Administration is intent on implementing, despite the great harm these regulations will inflict on American consumers, workers, and companies — all for little effect on our nation’s air quality.

“In Texas, we’re blessed to lead the nation in energy production, but this also means our state faces the greatest damage these job-killing regulations impose. President Obama and his army of regulatory bureaucrats should not further stifle our nation’s economic growth by penalizing one of its only booming sectors. Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area are already struggling to meet the 2008 ozone standard. Not only will this new standard curb the growth of the energy sector, it will also cause Americans’ electricity costs to skyrocket at a time when we can least afford it.

“The devastating effects don’t stop there. Texas is the second largest manufacturing state by employment with approximately 850,000 jobs. With a $3.9 billion increase in compliance costs, this extraneous rule may pose the greatest risk to the chemical and refining companies that call Texas home.

“While the Obama Administration claims this rule will improve air quality and the health of our nation, the facts don’t support that assertion. In fact, the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ) found that this change could actually increase mortality rates in areas such as Houston. This demonstrates that, once again, President Obama is more concerned with placating extremist special interests than helping American workers and families escape the failed Obama economy.”

Several local officials also came out against the rule.

“The Houston region is the model for others in this great country to follow regarding improving air quality. We have dramatically improved air quality while expanding business and growing population. Regulatory and voluntary programs reduced ozone levels by nearly 30 percent since 2000,” Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton said. “The EPA is considering more restrictive standards after only issuing guidelines to meet current regulation just six months ago. Continuously moving the ‘goal posts’ is a dangerous and demoralizing practice. It does not allow time for effective programs to work and it creates instability, which depresses new capital investment in manufacturing facilities. This practice is a two-edged sword. It impacts local jobs and it also deters development of new, more efficient and lower emitting manufacturing processes - new processes that help improve our air quality,” Mouton added.

Rebecca Rentz, Greater Houston Partnership Clean Committee Chair, environmental attorney and former TCEQ director, said meeting this new standard will be challenging.

“This is the fourth version of the ozone standard that the EPA has issued. I look at it like a limbo bar. It went from 125 ppb in the 1970’s to 85 ppb in the 90’s. In 2008, it was lowered to 75 ppb and now it’s 70,” she said. “The good news is that the Houston region has made significant progress in meeting the first two standards and we are working on the third. We have reduced ozone levels by 18 percent in the last decade.

“The challenge is dealing with natural sources beyond our control. For example, I’ve seen 80 ppb come in overnight with transport that’s come in from another country. We can measure how much and what type of dust is in the air. There’s always a percentage component of emissions that come in from places like the Sahara Desert.

“I think we need to take another look at the Clean Air Act to see if there’s a better way of working together nationally and internationally to improve things.”